Providence, RI Hotels for Romantics

This hotel was conceived as a grand Masonic temple. Neo-Classical in style and poised between the equally dignified state capitol and the heart of downtown Providence, its future was aborted when the Depression descended and construction funds dried up. The shell sat empty for 78 years, yet was listed on the National Register of Historic Places despite the urban decay that plagued it. Thanks to a $100 million dollar investment, the building was transformed in 2004 into an elegant, state-of-the-art property. Today the upscale hotel, with its 272 rooms, trendy Temple Downtown restaurant, funky-goth-intimate lounge, and an entire floor dedicated to weddings, has assumed a prominent spot on the Providence skyline and in the life of the city.

Located in Warwick, 15 miles outside Providence, NYLO is one of a new breed of hip boutique hotels, reasonably priced and eco-sensitive. Although the accommodations -- generally under $100 a night -- may remind some of an upscale college dorm room, the gathering place in the lobby is extraordinary. Named The Loft, it's a restaurant-cum-lounge with an ultra-long, undulating bar and decor that creates its own reality, a cross between Pee Wee's Playhouse and the undersea world. Intrigued? Then detour to Warwick to experience the next wave in travel.